Therapeutic Potential of Picrorrhiza Kurroa in Prevention and Treatment of Hepatic Disorders: an Overview *b.r.pandey

The liver being vulnerable to wide variety of metabolic, toxic, microbial, circulatory and neoplastic insults is subjected to potential damage resulting in acute or chronic hepatic disorders. Viral hepatitis has always been a disease of major concern. The existence of atleast five distinct viral hepatitis agents has been documented namely HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV and HEV. Distinctive differences in symptoms of disease like onset, severity, prevalence, season, serological markers, clinical course etc lead to distinguish the causative agent. Liver disorders may be as acute or chronic hepatitis (inflammatory liver disease), hepatosis (noninflammatory disorders) and liver cirrhosis (degenerative disorder resulting in fibrosis of the liver). An actual curative therapeutic agent has not yet been found. In fact most of the available remedies rather support or promote the process of healing or regeneration of the liver. The drugs available in the modern system of medicine are the corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents which bring about only symptomatic relief and in most cases have no influence on the disease process. Their use is also associated with the risk of relapses and danger of side effects. In addition, two types of hepatitis B vaccines (plasma derived and recombinant) have also been developed and are available. These vaccines are too expensive and cannot be afforded by common patients. These vaccines also produce few side effects. Considering the non availability of effective, safe and cheep drugs for the cure of hepatic disorders, usefulness of alternate herbal therapy is currently being evaluated by scientists and clinicians. Picrorrhiza kurroa is one of the most important herbs of ayurveda which forms an ingredient of many Indian herbal preparations used for the treatment of liver disorders. The alcoholic extract of Picrrorhiza kurroa has been shown to demonstrate significant hepato protective effect which appeared to be due to a mixture of two iridoid glycosides (picroside 1 and kutkoside) known as picroliv (kutkin). It has been found more active than a known hepatoprotective drug silymarin. Considering beneficial action of Picrorrhiza kurroa in protection of hepatic damage, an organic herbal formulation, Liver-Kidney-Care consisting of three medicinal herbs namely Picrorrhiza kurroa, Boerhavia diffusa and Phylanthus nirruri has been developed by International Institute of Herbal Medicine (IIHM), Lucknow, India. This formulation is free of pesticides, insecticides, weedcides, toxins and harmful chemicals. Liver –Kidney Care has been found to provide beneficial effect to patients of hepatic disorders attending the clinic of IIHM and several patients have been cured with the treatment of this herbal drug. Therefore, this herbal formulation alone can be used as alternative medicine in the treatment of hepatic disorders or it can also be used as adjunct / complimentary medicine.